Type holder



Marh 5, 1963 w, B. MILES 3,079,860

TYPE HOLDER Filed March 2s. 195e INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent() Seti 'YFI 'riiiiiii Wiliiam B. lviiies, Beriord, Va. Fried hier. 23, i959, Ser. No. $61,316 Ai Sian-ns. (Ci. lol-SMQ This invention relates to the art of printing and is more particularly directed to la holder for type.

in my prior patents, 2,821,916 entitled Printing Machines, and 2,775,196 entitled Rotary Printing Machine with Flat Printing Plate, l disclosed and claimed printing machines particularly designed for use in the imprinting of checks witl the depositors name, address, and such other useful information as may be desired. These machines were necessarilyl provided with means for securing type in lines or sticks in proper printing position therein and the means there conceived of was a block suitably recessed to receive inverted T-shaped or footed type, inserted in position element by element. Obviously, insertion of ltype in this manner is tedious and equires direct handling which may cause the iingers to be stained with ink.

The present invention has to do with an improved form of type holder :for one or more of these machines, such holder being especially designed with a view to facilitating removal of type, preferably in the form of sticks previously prepared by ways known in the art, when one imprinting order has been completed and the eplacernent therein of fresh type or the imprinting of a new order. While the holder of the invention has particular utility in association with one or more of my check imprinting machines, its usefulness is not necessariiy limited thereto and the novel principles and features embodied therein may be employed with advantage in other machines and in the printing of materials other than checks.

it is one ofthe lobjects of the present venticn to provide a self-contained type holder having an improved arrangement for releasably retaining type therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder of the type described including means for clamping the type in proper printing position between 'two opposed members and for automatically separating these members when the clamping force is released to facilitate removal and replacement of the type.

A further object is the provision of a holder of the type descr-ibed wherein the clamping means is self-aligning with respect to the type.

A still further object of the invention is a holder of the type described which is adapted to retain two spaced apart groups of type, a single ciamping means `serving to retain both groups in proper printing position.

@ther obgects and advantages will be brought to mind by the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FiG. l is a top plan view of the holder of the invention showing the clamping cam in operative position;

FlG. 2 is a view similar to FiG. l but with the type removed and with the clamping cam shown in inoperative position;

FG. 3 is a view in section taken generally along line- A-A of HG. l;

HG. 4 is a view in section taken generally along line B-B of PEG. 3; and,

FiG. 5 is a view oi the rear of the holder.

ln the drawings, the numeral 16 generally designates a solid, three-dimensional block or base member, ordinarily of rectanf-fular plan condguration and cast or otherwise formed metal, which blocl; forms the basic component of the holder of the invention, carrying or supporting all of the remaining elements. As can be best seen in FiGS. 2 and 4, along each side of the top face of 155 16 are of a shape in cross-section of a shallow U 'and in ICC bloeit 19, parallel to the major or greatest axis thereof, is an upstanding rib or tiange 12 which forms one retain member for the type. immediately adacent each of the tlanges 12, the top face of the block is formed with a plane surface i4, preferably of elongated rectangular shape, which is adapted to receive and support type T, indicating the depositors name, address, account nurnber or such other information as may be desired. lt is desirable for the purposes of the invention that the ltype be assembled in the form of sticks in any of the customary ways of the art. Between the planar surfaces 14, the top face of the block is recessed, as at 16, except for a central rib or cross-bar 1S, there being, consequently, two oppositely facing recesses i6, one at each end ofthe block, separated by the cross-bar 1S. Recesses plan of a deeper U. From this desoriptionit will be understood that the top face of the block, in effect, is in the form lof an H, wherein the legs ofthe H arethe' plane surfaces i4, the -transverse connection of the H is the cross-bar 13 and he open portions are the recesses 35, with the anges i2 extending along the extreme side edges of the block and projecting at night angles to its face.

Mounted for pivotal movement on the surface of crossbar i8 is a clamping cam 29 which is held in place by means of a bolt Z2 passing through an `aperture 23 provided in cross-bar 1S, the bolt being threaded at its lower end for the reception of a retaining nut 25. In the preferred embodiment of the holder as illustrated, the cam is of the double-acting type, being efective to exert clamping force in both directions laterally thereof. To this end, earn 20 is generally inthe form of a thin rectangular or square plate-like element having two opposite corners cut away as at to provide flats thereon, the remaining two opposite corners of the `cam pla-te being extended outwardly in the form of narrow arms or levers 26. To facilitate manufacture of the cam, the portions thereof constituting the arms and flats may be ormed separatedly and attached, as by welding, to the rectangular center portion, but this is `a reiinement and the cam can obviously be formed in other ways. ln actuating cam levers 2d are grasped or engaged by the fingers of the operator and it is advantageous to suitably shape and/ or curve levers 2e in the manner shown in the drawings to facilitate their manipulation. The presence of recesses i6 also makes the levers 26 more accessible.

Disposed on each of the plane surfaces i4 in spaced relationship to the flanges l2 and directly adjacent the terminations of cross-bar 13 is a clamping bar 3d, of a length generally the same as that lof surface 14. There is secured to the approximate midpoint of each bar a Vpin 32, projecting downwardly from the undersurface of the bar and passing through an aperture 34 provided in the block for 'that purpose. Each of the apertures 34 is enlarged or elongated in a direction ltransverse to the major axis of the block so that each pin 32' is capable both of pivotal and limited lateral movement with respect to its corresponding aperture. Adjacent the lower end of each pin is an enlargement or collar 3o having a diameter in excess of the largest dimension of aperture 34, and below the colla-rs 36, the pins are connected together by a spring 33 in tension. It will be seen that clamping bars Et are maintained in position on the planar surfaces i4 by pins 32, collars 35 preventing the removal of the pins from apertures 34, and that the bars are urged towards one another by spring 38 to the extent permitted by apertures 34.

As can be seen in FEC-S. 2 and 4, each of the clamping 1/3' of its length, with an elongated kerf or slot di) extending parallel to thelongitudinal axis Iof the bar and spaced considerably closer to the inner side than to the outer side of the bar. Kerf 4i! may be formed by cutting the bar from one end thereof, as at 42, towards the other end, but terminating the cut before reaching the other end, and then enlarging the cut at the mid-portion to form the slot 4t?. The presence of kerf 4d permits the adjacent strip-like portion 41 of the bar to yield under pressure, acting much as a leaf spring to permit repeated yielding without breaking.Y The bar'ishould be constructed from a mlaterial that is relatively free of fatigue, such as spring see .In FIG. V2, the clamping cam V20 is shown in inoperative position with the arms 26 closely adjacent opposite ends of the two clamping ba-rs 39. `When cam 20 is in such position, clamping bars 30 are free to move under the inuence of spring 38 towards one another as far as permitted by apertures 34 or until they contact the side walls of clamping cam 20. The transverse or minimum dimension of cam 20 is ordinarily so selected that Ythe side walls thereof will just Contact the inner Sides Of the clamping bars when Vthe latter are 1' Very near their very maximum inner position. With the in inoperative position, the type supporting surfaces 14 are exposed V.or opened to the fullest degree possible; consequently,

sticks of type may be placed thereon, or removed therefrom, with a maximum of ease and minimum of resistance. The type having been put in place, the cam operating arms 26 are grasped manually and manipulated topivot the cam untilthe flattened surfaces 24 contact 'and seat against the inner side walls of the clamping bars latl.Y

' The diagonal dimension of cam 20, i.e. the distance between the."ats 24, is somewhat greater than the minimum transverse dimension between its side walls in order that the rotation of the cani forces the clamping bars apart in the direction of their corresponding anges l'12,'.such movement being, of course, permitted by the Itransversely elongated slots 3.4. This diagonal dimension is selected such that it slightly exceeds the dimension separating the clamping bars when the latter are urged as far as possible against type sticks T in the directionV of flanges 12 so'that the yieldable Vmid-portions of the clamping bars are placed under compression when cam 20 is in operative position with theV ats seating against the sidewalls of the clamping bars. In this way,` the type sticks are maintained in printing position under spring pressure which also serves to hold the cam in voperative position and prevent inadvertent movement of 'the cam therefrom. Y

As has already been brought out, the clamping bars aremounted for both pivotal and limited sliding movement with respect to surfaces 14. The bars, therefore, adjust themselves more or less automatically to type sticks which vary slightly in thickness or in the parallelism of their side walls andare, in effect, selfaligning relative to the type.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 3-5, it has been found advantageous to provide the bottom face of the block with a transverse recess 44 'to accommodate the lower 'portion of pins'3i2' and bolt 2 2 and prevent their projecting below the bottom face of the block as well as with *feet'd which maintain the undcrsurface of the block in slightly spaced relationship to any supporting surface.

' These details, however, are unnecessary to the actual functioning of the lholder and may be omitted Ior altered to t: a given; set of circumstances.

Whiletheinvention has been illustrated as capable of .receiving two sticks of type on one supporting surface 14 and one stick of type on the other of suchY surfaces, it will bte-appreciated that this is for purposes of illustration only and that the dimensions of the block may be modiedto accommodate any desired number of sticks'of type. Moreover, Where the available space is in excess .of Vtlnefactual number of sticks required for a 'given purpose, it will be borne in mind that iillers or spacers may be employed to occupy this excess area. Other modifications in design and detail of the construction will naturally occur to one skilled in 'the art. Accordingly, it is not 4intended that the invention should be limited tothe exact details lof the illustrative embodiments, but only as is required by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, that which is claimed is:

l. A type holder comprising a base member including an elongated upstanding -rib and a planar surface adjacent said rib, which surface is adapted to support type;

a cam member adjacent said surface in opposed relation to said rib and mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending at right angles to lsaid surface; an clongated bar retained on said surface adjacent said cam'and in spaced parallel relation to said rib, said bar being adapted for limited movement towards and away from said rib, and spring means connected to said bar for biasing said bar toward said cam, said cam being operative upon pivotal movement to act upon said bar and move the same laterally toward said rib against theforce of said biasing means to thereby clamp type on said surface between said bar and said rib and said spring means being operative to move said bar away from said rib to release the type when said cam is rendered inoperative, said bar being provided with a long, thin slot extending parallel to the bar axis adjacent the side ofthe bar con` tacted by said cam and terminating at points spaced from the bar ends, said slot passing through said bar along a plane parallel to the pivot axis of the cam and separating a thin strip of the bar from the remainder thereofY except adjacent the bar ends, the locus of contact of the cam with the bar being within the limits of said slot whereby face of said base member is formed with an elongated aperture having its major axis at right angles to said opstanding nib and extending from said surface perpendicularly into said block, and including a pin loosely fitting within said aperture and retained against axial withdrawal therefrom, one end of said pin being connected to said elongated Vbar and said spring means is connected to said pin .to bias said pin and said elongated bar away from said @Standing rib.

3. A type holder comprising a base member including an elongated upstanding rib and a planar surface adjacent said rib for supporting type; Vau elongated rigid clamping bar disposed on said surface in spaced relationship to said rib and cooperating with said rib to retain `said strip contacting said bar adjacent its ends and having an intermediate portion spaced from said bar, whereby said intermediate portion may be deformed towards said ybar to iiex the strip, and a cam member mounted on said base member on the side of said strip remote from said bar for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to ti e plane of said strip and adapted to contact the intermediate portion of the strip, said cam being operative to move the strip and bar towards said rib to the extent permitted by the type and then to deform the intermediate portion towards the bar whereby the resilient force of the strip is exerted against the bar to clamp the typein place.

4. A type holder as in claim 3 wherein said carri meni- Vber is of the over-center type and is provided with a attened surface adapted to seat against lsaid intermediate portion when in over-.center position, said intermediate portion being deformed by the movement of the cam to 2,. A type holder as in claim l wherein the planar sur- 5 over-center position and remaining deformed when said 2,103,490 attened surface is seated thereagainst. 2,211,910 2,267,044 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,409,499

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 980,012 Schmitz Dec. 27, 1916 355,590 1,753,173 Pope Apr. 1, 1930 1,827,550 Williams SCL 13, 1931 2,009,414 Robers 31.115' 30, 1935 10 Kline Feb. 15, 1938 Read Aug. 20, 1940 Read Esc. 23, 1941 Wild et a1. Oct. 15, 1946 FOREGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 28, 1932 OTHER REFERENCES Germany, B29,165X11, December 20, 1956. 

3. A TYPE HOLDER COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER INCLUDING AN ELONGATED UPSTANDING RIB AND A PLANAR SURFACE ADJACENT SAID RIB FOR SUPPORTING TYPE; AN ELONGATED RIGID CLAMPING BAR DISPOSED ON SAID SURFACE IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID RIB AND COOPERATING WITH SAID RIB TO RETAIN TYPE CONTIGUOUSLY THERE BETWEEN, SAID BAR BEING ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM SAID RIB; AN ELONGATED RESILIENT STRIP EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID BAR ALONG THE SIDE THEREOF REMOTE FROM SAID RIB, SAID STRIP CONTACTING SAID BAR ADJACENT ITS ENDS AND HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION SPACED FROM SAID BAR, WHEREBY SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION SPACED FROM SAID BAR, WHEREBY SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION MAY BE DEFORMED TOWARDS SAID BAR TO FLEX THE STRIP, AND A CAM MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER ON THE SIDE OF SAID STRIP REMOTE FROM SAID BAR FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID STRIP AND ADAPTED TO CONTACT THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE STRIP, SAID CAM BEING OPERATIVE TO MOVE THE STRIP AND BAR TOWARDS SAID RIB TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE TYPE AND THEN TO DEFORM THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION TOWARDS THE BAR WHEREBY THE RESILIENT FORCE OF THE STRIP IS EXERTED AGAINST THE BAR TO CLAMP THE TYPE IN PLACE. 